St. Cloud couple helps Canadian brothers keep moving down the mighty Mississippi

Eric and Daniel Phendler leave the Rotary Park landing Monday, July 16, on the Mississippi River in Sartell. The brothers are planning to paddle the entire length of the river. (Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)Buy Photo

SARTELL — A few weeks ago, two brothers from Quebec, Canada, packed up the necessary food, tents and camping gear, placed it in the belly of a great canoe and paddled out the mouth of Lake Itasca toward the adventure of a lifetime.

Eric Phendler and his brother Daniel are canoeing the Mississippi River — all 2,320 miles of it — and have been since June 30 with the help of Minnesotans they've bumped into along the way.

"I had been planning this trip for a while now," Eric said Sunday night. "I was just looking to do some kind of big perseverance trip."

About six months ago, Eric convinced Daniel to ride the rapids with him, both tucked tight in the same canoe to make the 75-day trip.

"Combined, we have maybe 10 hours in a canoe in our life," Eric said of he and his brother before the trip.

The Phendlers are regular backpackers so they're used to living out of a pack and are happy with their lives strapped to their back. But this trip they wanted something different.

"As for the canoeing the 2,200 miles, we have no experience whatsoever," Eric said.

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Eric and Daniel Phendler share goodbyes with Brian and Laura Marek as the Phendlers prepare to leave the Rotary Park landing Monday, July 16, on the Mississippi River in Sartell. The Mareks first met the brothers at their cabin on Lake Winnibigoshish and also hosted them overnight at their home in Sartell.(Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Laura Marek of St. Cloud said she and her husband, Brian, were visiting their family cabin at Lake Winnibigoshish last weekend when the Phendler brothers drifted by.

Eric said with confidence Sunday night that they have not capsized yet, but Laura Marek said when they first crossed paths at the lake, winds were high and the brothers nearly did capsize. She said it was without a second thought that the Mareks offered them a chance to recharge.

"They came up and my husband helped them out and they stayed for supper with us, and they ended up staying in our home," Laura said.

The Mareks knew small opportunities like a home-cooked meal and a hot shower would make a difference to the brothers after a few weeks of floating the river and eating out of a backpack.

"They’re just so appreciative of everything," Laura said.

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Eric and Daniel Phendler are planning to canoe the length of the Mississippi River this summer. (Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Because of the gratitude they felt from the Phendlers that day, the Mareks took them in again a few days later when the brothers made their way down to Sartell's slice of the river.

"We’re kind of used to it because we’ve had 17 exchange students," she said. Marek explained they have hosted St. Cloud Rox players in the past and have had probably about 35 people come through their home.

The Phendlers got to Sartell Sunday evening and were met by the Mareks, who took them out to House of Pizza for dinner, let them stay in their home and baked them homemade apple crisp and caramel rolls.

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Brian Marek signs a paddle for Eric and Daniel Phendler as they prepare to leave the Rotary Park landing Monday, July 16, on the Mississippi River in Sartell. (Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Eric Phendler said they are making this expedition to raise money for Memphremagog Conservation, a nonprofit protecting the environmental health of international Lake Memphremagog, which is over 27 miles long and is shared between Canada and America. Their GoFundMe has already raised $1,300.

"We’ll typically plan about two days in advance," Eric said. "We’re averaging about 40 miles a day right now." He expects the trip will take them a full 75 days — placing them at the Gulf of Mexico in September.

"We’ve been fortunate enough that everyone we have met in Minnesota has been unbelievably nice," he said.

Monday morning, the Mareks brought the brothers back to Sartell to pick up where they left off. The couple signed their paddles for a second time — how the Phendlers plan to remember the people they've met along the way — and waved them goodbye.

"They’ll keep in touch with us," Laura said. "Who would have known that day when we were up at the lake we would have made friends with these guys?"

Send news tips to Jordyn Brown at jnbrown@stcloudtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @thejordynbrown

Eric and Daniel Phendler pack their gear into their canoe while preparing to leave the Rotary Park landing Monday, July 16, on the Mississippi River in Sartell. (Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)